10935683

System and Method for Processing Downhole Data in a Drilling Operation

PublishedMarch 2, 2021
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

Patent Claims
29 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A method for processing drilling data obtained via one or more downhole tools, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a signal to a computer processor, wherein the signal includes the drilling data encoded therein; applying one or more first filters to the transmitted signal; applying a plurality of predetermined templates to the transmitted signal; applying one or more second, adjustable filters to the transmitted signal and to the plurality of predetermined templates; decoding the transmitted signal based on the best match between a) two or more of the plurality of predetermined templates, and b) the transmitted signal, wherein the two or more of the plurality of predetermined templates and the transmitted signal are processed through the same adjustable filter of the one or more second, adjustable filters.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying, via a user interface, the signal and the one or more second, adjustable filters.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of applying the plurality of predetermined templates includes utilizing a correlation engine.

Plain English Translation

A system and method for pattern recognition involves applying a plurality of predetermined templates to an input signal to identify patterns. The templates are designed to match specific features or sequences within the input signal, enabling detection of anomalies, classifications, or other relevant information. The method includes generating a correlation score for each template by comparing it to the input signal, where the correlation score indicates the degree of similarity between the template and the input signal. Templates with high correlation scores are selected as matches, and the matched templates are used to derive meaningful insights or trigger specific actions based on the detected patterns. The correlation engine enhances the template-matching process by optimizing the comparison between templates and the input signal. It may employ statistical, mathematical, or machine learning techniques to improve accuracy and efficiency. The engine can adjust template parameters dynamically, such as scaling, shifting, or rotating templates, to better align with variations in the input signal. Additionally, the correlation engine may prioritize certain templates based on predefined criteria, such as relevance or historical performance, to improve detection speed and reliability. The system is applicable in various domains, including signal processing, image recognition, and anomaly detection, where identifying patterns in data is critical.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first filters include an anti-aliasing filter configured to restrict a bandwidth of the transmitted signal.

Plain English Translation

A system and method for signal processing in communication devices addresses the challenge of maintaining signal integrity during transmission. The invention focuses on filtering techniques to improve signal quality, particularly in wireless or high-frequency communication systems where signal distortion and interference are common. The method involves applying one or more filters to a transmitted signal to reduce noise and unwanted frequency components. These filters include an anti-aliasing filter designed to restrict the bandwidth of the transmitted signal, preventing aliasing effects that can degrade signal quality. The filtering process ensures that only the desired frequency components are transmitted, enhancing clarity and reliability. The system may also incorporate additional filtering stages to further refine the signal, depending on the specific application and environmental conditions. By optimizing the filtering parameters, the invention improves signal fidelity and reduces errors in data transmission, making it suitable for applications requiring high precision and low latency, such as telecommunications, radar systems, and digital broadcasting. The anti-aliasing filter plays a critical role in maintaining signal integrity by limiting the bandwidth to prevent distortion caused by high-frequency noise.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of predetermined templates is a sync template.

Plain English Translation

A system and method for managing data synchronization in a distributed computing environment addresses the challenge of efficiently synchronizing data across multiple devices or systems while minimizing conflicts and ensuring data consistency. The invention provides a framework for using predefined templates to structure and automate synchronization processes. At least one of these templates is a sync template, which defines rules and parameters for synchronizing data between different sources. The sync template may include specifications for conflict resolution, data transformation, and synchronization frequency. The method involves selecting an appropriate template based on the type of data and synchronization requirements, applying the template to the data, and executing the synchronization process according to the template's instructions. This approach ensures that data is synchronized in a controlled and predictable manner, reducing errors and improving reliability. The invention is particularly useful in scenarios where multiple devices or systems need to maintain consistent data states, such as in cloud computing, distributed databases, or collaborative applications. By using predefined templates, the system simplifies the synchronization process and allows for customization based on specific use cases.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the sync template is composed of one of: a) five double wide pulses followed by two single wide pulses, b) eight double wide pulses followed by two single wide pulses, or c) two double wide pulses followed by two single wide pulses.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the one or more second, adjustable filters is a bandpass filter, wherein the step of applying one or more second, adjustable filters includes applying the bandpass filter.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to signal processing systems that use adjustable filters to enhance or isolate specific frequency components in a signal. The problem addressed is the need for flexible filtering techniques that can dynamically adapt to varying signal conditions or user requirements, particularly in applications like audio processing, communications, or sensor data analysis. The method involves processing an input signal through a series of adjustable filters to extract or modify desired frequency components. Initially, one or more primary filters are applied to the input signal to perform an initial filtering operation. Then, one or more secondary, adjustable filters are applied to further refine the signal. At least one of these secondary filters is a bandpass filter, which allows a specific range of frequencies to pass while attenuating frequencies outside that range. The bandpass filter is adjustable, meaning its passband characteristics (e.g., center frequency, bandwidth) can be modified as needed. The method may also include adjusting the parameters of the bandpass filter based on real-time signal analysis or user input to optimize performance for the given application. This approach enables precise control over frequency components, improving signal clarity, noise reduction, or feature extraction in various domains.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein one of the one or more second, adjustable filters is a low pass filter, wherein the step of applying one or more second, adjustable filters includes applying the low pass filter.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein of one of the one or more second, adjustable filters is a high pass filter, wherein the step of applying one or more second, adjustable filters includes applying the high pass filter.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein one of the one or more second, adjustable filters is a notch filter, wherein the step of applying one or more second, adjustable filters includes applying one or more notch filters.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of applying one or more second, adjustable filters includes applying at least two of a low pass filter, a high pass filter, and a notch filter.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of applying one or more format identifiers to the transmitted signal, the format identifiers indicating a type of data to be transmitted.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The method claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: causing a drillstring to drill a well in an earthen formation; and causing drilling mud to flow through the drillstring.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the transmitting steps includes the step of initiating a series of pressure pulses in the drilling mud, the series of pressure pulses defining the signal.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. A system, comprising: the computer processor; a computer memory; and one or more software applications, that when executed by the computer processor, perform the method according to claim 1 .

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a mud-pulse telemetry tool configured to transmit the signal through drilling mud.

Plain English Translation

A system for transmitting data during drilling operations addresses the challenge of real-time communication in harsh subterranean environments where conventional wired or wireless methods are impractical. The system includes a downhole sensor array that collects operational data such as pressure, temperature, and drilling parameters. This data is processed by an onboard controller to generate a modulated signal representing the collected measurements. The system further incorporates a mud-pulse telemetry tool, which encodes the signal into pressure pulses within the drilling mud circulating through the borehole. These pressure variations propagate to the surface, where a receiver decodes the signal to reconstruct the downhole data for monitoring and decision-making. The mud-pulse telemetry tool ensures reliable transmission despite the abrasive and high-pressure conditions of the drilling fluid, enabling continuous data flow without interrupting the drilling process. This approach enhances operational efficiency by providing real-time insights into downhole conditions, reducing the risk of equipment failure and improving drilling accuracy. The system is particularly valuable in oil and gas exploration, where maintaining communication between surface and subsurface equipment is critical for safety and performance optimization.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. A computer program product configured to be stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product configured to, when executed by a computer processor, perform the method according to claim 1 .

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 18

Original Legal Text

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the one or more second, adjustable filters is a low pass filter, and another of the one or more second, adjustable filters is a high pass filter, wherein the step of applying one or more second, adjustable filters includes applying the low pass filter and the high pass filter.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of manually altering the one or more second, adjustable filters based upon changes in the transmitted signal to produce one or more updated second filters.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 20

Original Legal Text

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically adjusting, via the computer processor, the one or more second, adjustable filters to produce one or more updated second filters.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 21

Original Legal Text

21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of manually adjusting the one or more first filters based upon changes in the transmitted signal to produce one or more updated first filters.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 22

Original Legal Text

22. A graphical user interface configured to run on a computer device and configured to display output elements generated by the method of claim 21 .

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 23

Original Legal Text

23. A graphical user interface configured to run on a computer device and configured to display output elements generated by the method of claim 1 .

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 24

Original Legal Text

24. A system for processing drilling data transmitted from downhole tools in a drilling operation, the system comprising: a computer processor configured to: apply one or more first filters to a signal transmitted from a tool that contains the drilling data encoded therein; apply a plurality of predetermined templates to the signal, wherein the predetermined templates are representative of possible combinations of a data stream for an encoding format in the transmitted signal; apply one or more second, adjustable filters to the transmitted signal and to the plurality of predetermined templates; and decode the transmitted signal based on the best match between a) two or more of the plurality of predetermined templates, and b) the transmitted signal, wherein the two or more of the plurality of predetermined templates and the transmitted signal are processed through the same adjustable filter of the one or more second, adjustable filters.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 25

Original Legal Text

25. The system of claim 24 , further comprising a user interface configured to display the signal and the one or more second, adjustable filters.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 26

Original Legal Text

26. The system of claim 24 , wherein the one or more first filters include an anti-aliasing filter.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 27

Original Legal Text

27. The system of claim 24 , wherein the one or more second, adjustable filters is a bandpass filter, a low pass filter, a high pass filter, or a notch filter.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 28

Original Legal Text

28. The method of claim 24 , wherein the computer processor is configured to automatically adjust the one or more second, adjustable filters to produce one or more updated second filters.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 29

Original Legal Text

29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to apply the one or more updated second filters to the transmitted signal and to the plurality of predetermined templates to compensate for amplitude and phase distortion induced by the first filters, as well as changes in the transmitted signal, thereby improving detection of the transmitted signal.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to signal processing systems designed to enhance the detection of transmitted signals by compensating for distortions. The system addresses the problem of amplitude and phase distortions introduced by initial filtering stages, as well as variations in the transmitted signal itself, which can degrade detection accuracy. The system includes a computer processor configured to apply updated second filters to both the transmitted signal and a set of predetermined templates. These second filters are dynamically adjusted to counteract the distortions caused by the first filters and to account for changes in the transmitted signal. By applying these updated filters, the system improves the fidelity of the signal and template comparison, leading to more reliable signal detection. The predetermined templates serve as reference patterns against which the processed signal is compared, ensuring accurate identification even in the presence of distortions. The dynamic adjustment of the second filters allows the system to adapt to real-time signal variations, maintaining high detection performance under varying conditions. This approach is particularly useful in applications where signal integrity is critical, such as communications, radar, or sensor systems.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

Unknown

Publication Date

March 2, 2021

Inventors

Samir Habboosh
Sean Judge
William Edward Turner
Sheryl Brothers
Mary Deshon
Jose Bscheider
Mark Roman

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SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING DOWNHOLE DATA IN A DRILLING OPERATION